What is paddleboard yoga, and is it as wobbly as it looks?

Picture a still lake at eight in the morning, mountains upside down in the water, a row of boards floating like lily pads. Someone in the middle is attempting a tree pose with enormous concentration. Someone at the end has just fallen in, and is laughing. That, in a sentence, is paddleboard yoga.

How a class works

Most sessions follow a similar shape.

1. A short paddle out. The instructor shows you how to kneel, paddle and steer, and the group heads to a sheltered spot.
2. Anchoring. Boards are often clipped to an anchor or a line so nobody drifts off mid-pose.
3. A gentle flow. Expect a slower, simpler sequence than a studio class: seated stretches, kneeling poses, tabletop, a bit of downward dog, standing poses for the brave.
4. Lying still. The final rest, flat on your back with the board rocking gently and the sky overhead, is the bit people remember.
5. The paddle back.

The boards used are usually wider and longer than everyday paddleboards, with a big grippy deck pad. Your paddle lies across the front or is tucked under a bungee.

So, how wobbly is it?

Wobbly enough to keep you honest. On a mat, you can drift through a pose thinking about lunch. On a board, the water notices every lazy shift of weight. Small movements become big, and you learn to do everything slowly, with your weight centred over the middle of the board.

Some things that help:

• Keep your hands and feet wider than you would on land.
• Stay low until you feel settled. Kneeling and seated poses are wonderful on the water.
• Look at a fixed point, a tree or a building on the shore, rather than the water.
• Breathe out slowly as you move into a pose.
• Skip what you don't fancy. Nobody is checking.

If you are new to yoga, our guide to yoga when you're stiff is a kind introduction for land.

Falling in gracefully

You will fall in. Most people do, at least once, and it tends to be the funniest moment of the session. A few tips for doing it with style:

• Fall away from the board, not onto it, and not towards your neighbour.
• Fall flat, like a starfish, rather than diving. You are on calm water, so the best fall is the least dramatic one.
• Climb back on from the side, near the middle, pulling yourself onto your stomach, then kneeling.

Choose clothes you don't mind getting wet. On warm days, falling in is half the appeal.

Who it suits

Paddleboard yoga suits almost anyone who is comfortable in the water: experienced yogis who want a new challenge, paddleboarders who want to stay out longer, and complete beginners who like the idea of a class with a view. You don't need to be flexible, and nobody expects a headstand.

You do need to be happy falling into water that might be out of your depth. If that worries you, say so to the instructor; they will usually suggest a buoyancy aid and keep you close.

Choosing a class

Look for a qualified instructor who is trained in both yoga and paddleboarding, and who runs sessions on calm, sheltered water with safety kit on hand. Ask what happens if the wind picks up; a good school will happily move or cancel a session. Our guide to how hard paddleboarding is for a beginner covers the wind and safety basics that apply here too.